Golden branches and jade leaves
Chapter 10
Chapter 10
From the small side hall to the main hall of Tianxiangyuan, you have to walk through a long corridor. The corridor, which was originally a good place to cool off in summer, is now hung with pearl gauze curtains on both sides to avoid the cold wind and enjoy the scenery.
Su Mi and Qi Yan walked through the winding corridor together, and just turned a corner, when He Yuwang led a few young eunuchs and walked towards this side, seeing the two of them, they hurriedly saluted, "Greetings to the two talented masters .”
Su Mi said lightly: "No."
Just as he was about to pass by, the last eunuch among the eunuchs was startled when he heard her voice. Su Mi couldn't help squinting slightly. When I saw it, I didn't know why, there were a few scars all over the face, which ruined a face that should have been very upright, and it was very hideous.
Su Mi couldn't help but take another look, and even with this look, even if she was calm, her expression changed immediately.
"Master, master, what's wrong?" Seeing that Su Mi's face suddenly turned pale as paper, Mi Qing hurriedly supported her and said.
"It's nothing." Su Mi replied, but her voice couldn't help trembling, as if her tongue wasn't her own anymore.
Even though he had changed a lot, she still recognized him.
"What's wrong with sister? What's wrong?" Qi Yan also panicked.
"Master is not feeling well, if I had known, I would not have come here." Mi Qing exclaimed, "Your servant, please go and call the imperial physician over."
"The master is not feeling well, the slave should send someone to call the imperial doctor, don't bother the girl." He Yuwang said hastily.Su Mi was in the midst of being favored and pregnant again, so they naturally couldn't keep up with each other.
"No need," Su Mi supported the railing, and said, "It's just a little dizzy, it'll be fine after a while." Turning her head to Qi Yan, she said, "It's good for my younger sister to come over now, I'll be there in a while."
Qiyan wanted to say something else.
Su Mi shook her hand and said: "In order not to worry the emperor and empress, my sister will go first, I will be there in a while."
Qi Yan dawdled for a while, and seeing that Su Mi's face was getting better, she nodded and walked away with her step by step.
He Yuwang hastily wiped and wiped the railings of the corridor with his sleeve.Mi Qing helped Su Mi to sit down: "Could it be that the master caught a cold just now, I don't know when the banquet will be held tonight, I think it's better for the slaves to ask the empress for leave, let's go back to Caiwei Palace."
"Yeah, what if I hurt the dragonborn, it's better to send someone to the imperial doctor." He Yuwang said from the side.
Hearing the word "Dragonborn", the eunuch couldn't help shaking again, and his face became extremely ugly.
"No need, Mr. Lao is bothering you. It's just a common illness, just take a short rest." Su Mi said calmly, then looked at the eunuchs behind him, and asked, "I don't know who these eunuchs are? Are you following Eunuch He? Are you very familiar?"
"Oh, the master is asking about these servants? They are all taking care of the plum garden, and they all just entered the palace. Some rough people, because they don't know the master's jade car passed by, bumped into the master. The slave is here Send them far away."
"Oh, don't be busy, I'm taking care of the plum garden? I just want to move a few plum trees in my yard, so I have to ask about it another day? Have any of you ever planted plum blossoms?" Su Mi asked softly, The eyes looked at him involuntarily.
"The slave planted it." He immediately raised his head and said.
"Master Su wants to grow plum blossoms. He really has a good eye. This old slave is just a layman, but he also thinks that the plum blossoms are beautiful and noble. They are just suitable for you, Master." He Yuwang interjected.
"Oh, I came here to enjoy the plum blossoms today, and only then did I know the beauty of these plum blossoms. I want to move a few to my yard, but I don't know which one to plant." Su Mi has calmed down, and tried to look at him peacefully. , asked.
"I don't know where the master lives?"
"It's Caiwei Palace by Weiyang Pool."
"There is a saying that 'every year, Fang believes in the red plums, and the riverside is about to bloom again.' The slaves think that it is better to have Hanyinghongmei." The flowers of Hanyinghongmei are as red as blood, and their stamens are sharp, so It is also called "thorn plum" among the people.Very common, not a rare breed.
"I didn't expect you to be quite knowledgeable. What's your name?" Su Mi was silent for a moment, then smiled.
"Slave Chen Lie," he paused, then suddenly raised his head and said, "Master is not feeling well, it's better not to participate in today's banquet."
Su Mi was startled for a moment.
"Shut up, is this what you said to the master?" He Yuwang immediately shouted from the side, "Those who don't understand the rules. Hurry up and apologize to the master!"
Seeing that Su Mi didn't respond, Chen Lie became anxious and wanted to say something.
"I see, you don't need to say it." Su Mi interrupted him with a clear look in his eyes.
"Okay, since you are a newcomer, you naturally don't know the rules. Eunuch He, don't worry. I will ask him about plum blossoms in a few days." Su Mi's heart was still in a state of confusion, but her expression Has fully recovered, without a trace of flaws, smiling and authentic.
"Master, it's getting late, should we go to the banquet now, or..." Mi Qing asked a little anxiously from the side.
"Okay, I'll find a few masters for advice another day." Su Mi stood up, and Mi Qing helped her walk past the crowd.
When passing by his side, Su Mi could clearly feel his body trembling slightly.
"Chen Lie, I think you are usually prudent. Why are you so ignorant of the rules when you meet the master today. Fortunately, Su Cairen is a good-natured person. Otherwise, some of you are good-looking. You can find death yourself, and don't implicate us. Seeing Su Mi walking away, He Yuwang couldn't help being furious and reprimanded: "I saw that you usually speak and behave as if you have read a few books, and thought you were less frivolous than them, why are you so..."
While He Yuwang was chattering, he met Chen Lie's eyes, suddenly it seemed that he met a pair of ice, like a frozen lake in winter, it was frighteningly cold, and it was so dark that he couldn't see what was underneath.He Yuwang couldn't help but shuddered in Ji Lingling, the curse in his mouth seemed to be blocked by something suddenly, and he couldn't utter a word.
"Father-in-law, forgive me, Chen Lie was rude for a while." Chen Lie lowered his head, then raised his head, his eyes were soft and submissive.
He Yuwang settled down and looked, he was still the little eunuch who was submissive. "Uh... ah... It's good to know, but don't do it again." Hell, what happened to me just now, my old eyes are dizzy?he muttered to himself.
"This is..." Looking at Su Mi's back, some eunuchs he didn't know couldn't help asking.
"That's Master Su, you know, the one who just became a talented person a few days ago." He Yuwang rolled his eyes at him, and taught him a lesson: "You are lucky today, and you will be able to see Master, so be careful I pray to God to bless Su Cairen, don’t be frightened by the vulgar appearance of you group of rough embryos, it’s terrible to be frightened by Fengjia, you know? Su Cairen has dragon descendants by his side.”
Immediately, a little eunuch suddenly realized: "So that's Su Cairen. I heard that she was a court lady, and she was not a slave like us. Look at his good fortune, and there are dragon descendants. Tsk tsk, I really can't catch up. "
"Bah, what do you envy for a worthless thing? You are born to work hard. Could it be that you can also give birth to a little prince for the emperor?" A eunuch with a little more seniority among the crowd scolded with a smile.
Several people burst into laughter, He Yuwang immediately looked around cautiously, and cursed again, "Little bastard who doesn't understand the rules, I can beat you to death, this kind of thing can be said here? Be careful that the master passes here again , send all of you to the Hard Labor Department, clean up all the boards, and save me from worrying about it. Look at how stable Xiao Liezi is."
Chen Lie was the only one who didn't smile.
"He was so scared by you just now, he just entered the palace not long ago." Several people laughed.
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The layout of the hall is extremely festive.
The ground is covered with thick carpets inlaid with gold threads, and the beams are covered with exquisitely painted palace lanterns, with bright red silk flowers on them.
The main hall is surrounded by six pairs of tall copper pillars. Next to the copper pillars, there are carved silver candlesticks one person tall. The sky is not yet dark, but candles as thick as arms are lit early on. Spices, burnt with a delicate fragrance.
There is a carved table with a golden dragon on the front, and the dragon chair behind it is naturally made by the emperor, and Qi Long has not come over yet.On the left is the queen, and on the right is Concubine Ni, both of whom have arrived.
There are a row of red sandalwood tables on both sides, and beside the tables are jade vases, in which are just carefully prepared plum blossoms, and some plum blossoms still hold a little bit of residual snow on their petals.The aroma of plum blossoms mixed with the aroma of candles formed a warm and intoxicating atmosphere. Behind the table were soft embroidered cushions and pillows, and behind them stood maids and eunuchs who poured wine and tea for the concubines and served dishes.
Su Mi stepped into the main hall, and most of the high-ranking concubines in the harem had already arrived.
The scale of the banquet ordered by the emperor himself is naturally not comparable to the small banquet called by the queen. Although it is only a family banquet, if there are no special circumstances, the concubines in the harem must be decorated according to the decorations and formally attend.
Sitting behind the first table next to the queen was Qiyan, and there was still a seat vacant beside Qiyan. After that, the next table sat Concubine Chen Shu and Concubine Li Xian from among the first rank and four concubines, and after that was Luo Zhaoyi among the nine concubines. and Shen Xiuyuan.
Concubine Ni lowered her head, sitting among the six concubines were Concubine Wen, Concubine Yun and several concubines including Concubine Zheng.
In the next order are the concubines with lower status.It hasn't been too long since Qi Long succeeded to the throne, and most of the harem, especially high-level concubines, are vacant.
As soon as Su Mi stepped into the hall, she saw Qi Yan waving to her. Su Mi walked forward and sat down under the eyes of everyone.Originally, as two people in the harem, they really shouldn't sit in such a front position, but now that both of them are pregnant, even if there is any dissatisfaction with the concubine, they can only be suppressed in their stomachs and dare not express it.
Su Mi sat next to Qi Yan, and looked into the main hall, all the concubines were all gorgeously dressed.Through the plum blossoms and the white snow, it is dazzling.It's no wonder that all the concubines have put in so much effort, even Chen Shufei, who is one of the four concubines, once she falls out of favor, she will never see the emperor for most of the year, except for such formal occasions.So all of them are trying their best to attract the king's favor.
Today, the queen is wearing a red court dress embroidered with multicolored golden phoenix, and an exquisite golden phoenix with pearls on her head. Twelve phoenix tails firmly fix her bun into a fairy bun. There is an exquisite and delicate handle of Fugui Ruyi in her mouth, and there are three strings of pearls hanging from it, the bottom one of each string is the size of a lotus seed, and the middle one is bigger than a circle, hanging on her forehead , exuding a soft light, it turned out to be three luminous pearls, the brilliance flowed, and the empress's face was even more dazzling.It is a phoenix crown and Xiapei, which is dazzling and bright.
Concubine Ni is wearing a simple sky blue court dress embroidered with dark flowers, and she only wears a thin phoenix tail on her head. The phoenix tail made of colorful gemstones neatly holds her bun, and several pearl flowers are pinned to the side of the bun. They are all made of large pearl strings. The strangest thing is that each bead emits a faint blue fluorescence, and even the clothes emit this radiance. From a distance, Ni Yelin seems to be sitting in the radiance. Average, bright and moving.
"My sister's beaded flower is really unique, and the style of the clothes is also fresh. I think the button and the beaded flower are both made of Ye Mingzhu, right?" the queen asked kindly.
Luminous pearls are rare in the first place, and particles of this size are extremely rare accessories. They can be met but not sought after. The queen is from the most powerful and powerful Wang family in Daqi. She also cherishes the golden phoenix with the luminous pearl very much. It is not a formal occasion. It will not be taken out and used easily.But seeing Concubine Ni today, not only the beads, but even the buttons of the clothes are glowing night pearls, and none of the particles is inferior to her golden phoenix, the queen couldn't help being curious.
"Elder Sister Empress is joking, what is Ye Lin's status, how dare she use Ye Mingzhu to make beads and buttons, besides, our Ni family has always been poor, so we can't afford to use them." Concubine Ni immediately said.
"Oh, I think this bead is very bright, it's not a night pearl, it's strange." The queen laughed.It's really strange that your Ni family is poor.The territory of the Ni family is the famous and affluent Yongzhou among the nine states in the world. It has prosperous business and is rich in the world. Although the Ni family has always kept a low profile, its wealth and luxury can be seen from the daily behavior of Concubine Ni.
"It's just some ordinary Hepu beads, they're just ordinary varieties. They can't compare to the empress, who came from a famous family, but she found such a big night pearl. Presumably, the emperor's eyes will be drawn to it after a while, ha ha." Concubine Ni said Mouth chuckled.
The queen's face was a little bit bad, and she smiled again: "Where is it a rare thing, if my sister likes this golden phoenix, why don't you tell me earlier, and give it to my sister."
"Ye Lin doesn't dare to ask for it. Only empresses are eligible to wear the twelve-tailed golden phoenix. How dare maids and concubines dare to wear it? And... the empress is so 'treasure' this golden phoenix...hehe...as the saying goes, a gentleman should not wear it. It's what people like." Ni Yelin's smile became sweeter and sweeter.
The queen really had the urge to throw her golden phoenix down hard on the smiling face of Concubine Ni Gui.
"My younger sister is so radiant, I can't even look away from my elder sister. When the emperor sees her later, I'm afraid she will be as stunning as she was two years ago. How can my elder sister, who is already old, compare to her," the queen sighed. "The past two years have really passed by in a flash. Now that I see the new sisters sitting down, I really have to be convinced and sigh."
Concubine Ni's face was also a little uneasy, the queen's words were clearly reminding her that her doting was two years ago, no matter how much she tried to dress up, it was useless.She wanted to refute again, but when she saw the queen repeating these few words, she turned her head away and went to talk to Su Mi who was sitting down, she couldn't help feeling depressed.
In fact, what she just said is indeed true. Her pearls are indeed Hepu pearls. It’s just that she recently found a rare and skilled craftsman from Yongzhou. Put a solution mixed with luminous powder, and then use a needle as thin as a cow's hair to pierce pores all over the surface of the pearl, so that the solution seeps out to the surface of the pearl, so that ordinary pearls also look dotted and fluorescent.
"What's wrong with Su Cairen?" The queen asked with concern. "Just now I heard from Liu Cairen that he seems to be in poor health on the road."
"My sister is not feeling well, and she almost passed out just now." Qi Yan interjected.
"Thank you, Empress, for your concern. The maid and concubine are fine. They are just a little tired after playing around for a while. They are no longer in the way." Su Mi pulled herself together and replied with a smile.
"That's good. If there is anything wrong, we can't afford it. I don't know when the banquet will be tonight. If you feel tired, you can go to the back hall to rest for a while. Dragonborn is important."
"Your Majesty's lesson is, I need you to worry about my Majesty." Su Mi replied submissively.
"The emperor is here!" Just as he was talking, the eunuch at the door made a long announcement, and Qi Long walked in, followed by a tall and tall man, who was Prince Yu Qi Hao. This was the second time Su Mi saw him. he.
The queen was surprised when she saw Qi Hao coming in. Even the prince was still a man after all the family banquet where all the concubines gathered in the harem, so it should be taboo.
"I just came over from the Qianqing Palace, and just finished discussing with Prince Yu, so I came here together." Qi Long said: "We are all brothers of our own family, so there is no need to talk about so many vulgar etiquette and taboos."
After hearing Qi Long's words, the queen turned around and quickly ordered the little eunuch to arrange the tables and chairs. After another burst of fuss, a table was added under Concubine Ni Gui.Just opposite to Su Mi and Qi Yan's seat.
The Empress and Concubine Ni got up and helped Qi Long sit down. When Qi Long saw Concubine Ni, his eyes flashed with admiration, and he couldn't help but hold her hand and praised, "Ye Lin's dress is really unique today."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your compliment," Concubine Ni said happily, all the concubines dressed up carefully, isn't it just for such a look and a compliment?Just as she was about to say something else, the queen said from the side: "The concubine just went to pay her respects to the queen mother. The queen mother said that she would meditate and worship the Buddha and would not participate in this kind of excitement, so she didn't come here today. It's just the queen mother's body..."
Qi Taki immediately let go and turned his head and asked, "Is the queen mother okay?"
"It's not a big problem. I think the old man's health is not bad. It's just that the weather is too cold recently and he's a little stuffy. The concubine advised her to come here to relax." The queen smiled virtuously.
"Well, if there is any discomfort, it is better to call the imperial physician early." Qi Long said.
Qi Long chatted with the empress, Concubine Ni Gui was pushed aside and she couldn't talk at all. The empress dowager was the empress's aunt and the elder sister of the great general Wang She. Although she never had anything against Ni Yelin, she didn't particularly like her. she.Ni Yelin felt depressed again.
After Prince Yu Qi Hao sat down, he glanced down with his expression unchanged. His gaze passed Su Mi's table, paused for a moment, and then moved away as if nothing had happened.
Qi Yan looked at Qi Hao, and immediately recognized him as the person who was by the Bibo Pool that day, and couldn't help whispering in Su Mi's ear. Hao glanced over, and when the eyes of the two met, Qi Yan shuddered instantly, feeling as if she had been seen through from the inside out.
"Strange, he seems to have heard my words, obviously so far away..." Qi Yan muttered in a low voice, not daring to say any more.
Of course he could hear it, and Su Mi smiled slightly. She remembered that when she first met Qi Hao that day, Qi Hao was only wearing a thin white light shirt when the water was dripping into ice. He is a master of martial arts both internally and externally.
I just don't know what kind of variables will be added by his appearance at today's banquet!The hint Chen Lie gave her just now is already obvious enough, and when thinking about the scene of the theater troupe she met in Tianxiang Garden, Su Mi already knows very well that the background of today's theater troupe is not simple, and the purpose of course is not as simple as performing arts.
What should be done?
Expose them?There is no evidence, and when the time comes, how did Su Cairen know that there was an assassin in the troupe?How should I answer myself?
What should I do to bring the greatest benefit to myself?
Su Mi thought for a moment, leaned back slightly, called Mi Qing to her side, took her hand, and whispered a few words in her ear, Mi Qing looked surprised, then calmly, and took the order to leave.
"What did sister say just now?" Qi Yan next to her asked curiously.
"Looking at today's banquet, I'm afraid it will be very late. I'm afraid I won't be able to drink, so I tell her to go back and prepare some hangover soup." Su Mi laughed.
"Ah, my sister is really thoughtful. I should also tell them to prepare." Qi Yan clapped her hands.
Su Mi smiled and said nothing, raised her head, but saw Qi Hao looking at her thoughtfully, her heart tightened, and she calmed down.What she said in Miqing's ear just now was indeed hangover soup, but the real order was drawn on her hand with her finger while the two were holding hands.
She won't show any flaws!
The feast has begun.
All kinds of delicacies and delicacies were served like flowing water, and the maids at each table cleverly warmed the wine and served dishes for the concubines.
With a call, the theater troupe also came in front of the hall and began to perform.
A total of twelve people came in from the theater troupe, half of them were thick and big men, and the rest were young men and women.Entering the main hall, a few small wooden frames were immediately set up, and two tower-like men were holding two huge red lanterns. After a while, the preparations were completed, and everyone began to perform.Under the dazzling light, the dozen or so people continued to make difficult movements as smooth as water, with light and flexible movements, and the coordination between transitions was seamless.Although it is not as gorgeous and dazzling as the authentic singing and dancing in the palace, it is fresh and unique, and all the concubines are watching it intently.
The men below supported them with their hands, and the girls were lifted into the air, jumped up lightly, paused on the beam, and waved their hands. I don't know what method they used. The colored lights that were originally hanging on the beam lightly It exploded lightly, turning into countless pieces of broken gold and red paper, all cut into the shape of petals, falling from the air, extremely gorgeous.
Immediately afterwards, two huge red lanterns were suddenly opened, and there were actually two small girls sitting bent and embracing their knees inside. They stood up, and the lantern was split in two, and the upper half was held by the two girls, holding it slightly. As soon as it was folded and changed, it immediately turned into two golden lotuses. The man below lifted it with his hand, and the two of them cooperated with their feet, and immediately flew up. Bending down and dancing lightly, making all kinds of graceful and attractive movements between ups and downs, for a while, ribbons fluttered and flowers were clustered. With the wave of golden lotus, countless colorful flowers swayed from the lotus in the sky and flew down on the carpet. Everyone on board was amazed.
Su Mi's palms were sweating at this moment, and there was no more suitable opportunity than this moment to assassinate.She unobtrusively took off the jade pendant attached to the tassels on the side of her clothes, and put it in her arms.
Accompanied by high-pitched music, the two of them flew up for the last time. The nasturtium lantern exploded and turned into countless fine gold flakes. The two girls raised their hands, and two streams of red silk floated upwards, followed by a The banner floated down from the crossbeam, and on it was written big characters in gilt seal script, "Lingyun, Yuque, Towering, Haode, Biao, Xiaohan, Imperial Residence, Zhansu, Mu, Boen, and Kyushu." On the banner were four gold characters "Long live my emperor", in the sky full of The golden shavings are flying every now and then, which is particularly solemn and eye-catching.The concubines couldn't help being amazed.
At the moment when the two girls took off, Su Mi's heart also rose to her throat.
But, who knew, after pulling up the banner, the two women floated down leisurely, stood with hands down together with the rest of the troupe, and bowed to salute.
There was no assassination? !Su Mi's heart also sank, and she couldn't help being surprised. Could it be that they will have a better chance?
When Su Mi was puzzled, the theater troupe had kowtowed their thanks and stood at the entrance of the hall.
Qi Long watched with great interest, and repeatedly ordered the internal eunuchs around him to reward him.
The Queen laughed and said, "These folk juggling lanterns are quite unusual. Compared with the singing and dancing in the palace, they have a different flavor. Your Majesty is having fun with the people today."
Today's banquet is hosted by the empress, seeing Qi Long's high spirits, the empress is naturally very proud.
Concubine Ni glanced at the queen, smiled at Qi Long, and said, "Your Majesty, the banquet is about to begin, and my concubine has something to present to the emperor tonight."
"Oh, what?" Qi Ting asked.
"A few days ago, my father discovered a strange tea in Yizhou. It was very strange, but he couldn't think of a name. Today, I specially presented it to the emperor. Please enlighten me?"
"Really? Then take it in and have a look." Qi Long is in a great mood. It's the end of the year. In recent days, the connection between the government and the government is all good news. He was also recalled to the capital, and two more concubines were pregnant in the harem, which made him even more happy.
Concubine Ni clapped her hands lightly, and Xia Zhen, the maid next to her, immediately went out to spread the word, and after a while a man in Tsing Yi walked into the hall holding a gold plate.
On the plate was an exquisitely carved gold box. When the man in Tsing Yi walked into the hall, Gao Shengnuo immediately stepped forward to take the box and handed it to the eunuch in charge for inspection before presenting it up.
Qi Long opened the box, and a tea fragrance overflowed immediately, and the whole hall smelled it all at once.
Everyone couldn't help but be moved.At that time, drinking tea and discussing tea were extremely popular among the upper class of nobles in various countries, and most of the concubines present were good at tea ceremony.
"This is..." Qi Long couldn't hide the surprise on his face when he looked at the things in the box. Is this tea?Qi Taki lightly picked up one of them, it is clearly a piece of petals?However, there is an extremely cleansing tea fragrance in it, which is refreshing and refreshing.
"This is……"
"Sister Yun is a talented woman who is knowledgeable and knowledgeable. I don't know if Sister Yun knows this?" Concubine Ni looked at Qi Long's reaction with satisfaction, then looked up at Concubine Yun with a smile and asked.
Qi Long's gaze also turned to Concubine Yun, she was also known for her proficiency in tea ceremony and her knowledgeable experience, which was well known in the harem.
Concubine Yun knew that Concubine Ni Gui was entertaining herself, and her teeth were itching with hatred, but under the emperor's gaze, she still had to reply respectfully: "Reporting to the emperor, my concubines don't know. How can poor concubines and concubines be as good as you are?" Is she a noble concubine who is well-informed? You are really ashamed to be a talented woman."
"Haven't Lian Yiran heard of it?" Qi Long became interested and asked, "Where did you find this?"
"Reporting to the emperor, this is what my father found in a valley on the border. Speaking of which, there was an accident." Concubine Ni looked around, and everyone's eyes were focused on her.
"A few days ago, when my father led the army to attack Chen, he took people to a place in Yizhou for reconnaissance. When he passed a valley, he could smell the fragrance of tea from a distance. He thought there must be someone living there, so he wanted to go there and beg for bowls. Drinking water, who knows that after entering the valley, there are plum blossoms all over the valley, in full bloom, but the strange thing is that the fragrance of the flowers is not ordinary white plums, but the fragrance of tea is all over the valley, and the valley is full of fragrance. No one was there. This is really strange. My father ordered people to investigate carefully, and then sent people to ask around. It turned out that this place used to be a huge tea garden. People know that the tea trees here have been allowed to grow naturally for hundreds of years. The leaves grow and fall, and the tea leaves on the ground accumulate more and more, and gradually fall into mud. Ten years ago, a severe drought caused all the tea trees in the valley to die, leaving only a few wild plum trees still alive. I don’t know if they were contaminated with the aura of the valley. The tea is fragrant. But I don’t know where the tea fragrance comes from, I’m afraid it’s a spiritual seed blessed by the heavens.” Concubine Ni said eloquently: “A few days ago, the emperor’s kindness called my father back to Beijing to report his duties. So I brought some back with me."
"I didn't expect that the Ni family could even find this kind of thing." Thinking of the "white jade and green frost" that she just offered a few days ago, the queen didn't know that Ni Guifei was offering this kind of thing at this time to overwhelm her, so she immediately smiled and said: "Ni Gui The Great General really has all-hands and eyes, how much manpower and material resources have been spent to get it?"
"Spiritual wood is natural. My father discovered it by accident. It was God who blessed me, Daqi, and let this kind of spiritual thing come to the world. It was just passed on by my father. It is comparable to my mother. Lian Nan You can get Chen's famous tea." Concubine Ni laughed.The queen hinted that their Ni family was too powerful, how could she fail to understand, in terms of power, who can compare to your Wang family.
Qi Long glanced at the Queen with slight displeasure, then turned to Concubine Ni Gui and said, "Shangshu Ni has also worked hard, not to mention the great achievements he has made in his battle against Nanchen, I never thought that even such trivial matters would be thoughtful for me. "
"My father just took advantage of the emperor's great blessing to make a small contribution this time, which is not worth mentioning at all. It can't compare to the emperor's Wencheng Wude, which makes people happy, and even this kind of exotic tea came into being. "Ni Guifei laughed respectfully.
"Well," Qi Long was in a good mood, nodded with satisfaction, and asked again: "Does this tea have a name?"
Concubine Ni quickly smiled and said: "I don't have a name yet, it's just that even this kind of strange product came to the world, it must be a sign from the heavens, praise me for being an outstanding person in Daqi, and ask the emperor to give me an auspicious name."
Qi Taki looked at the petals in his hand, the shape was as round as pearls, and the color was white as jade, but the petals were a little red on the top, very cute, when he sniffed carefully, the tea fragrance also had the fragrance of plum blossoms, it was an indistinguishable one, indistinguishable. He laughed and said, "It really is a good omen. Since it is a plum petal, why not call it 'Snow Soul Congealing Pearl'"
"Good name," Ni Guifei clapped her hands in praise. "Sure enough, it is the name bestowed by the emperor. It is beautiful, elegant and unique."
All the concubines also praised immediately, "Heaven will be auspicious."
The queen's complexion dimmed a little imperceptibly, and she turned her head to wink at Concubine Yun.
Concubine Yun immediately understood, and after concentrating on it for a while, she immediately became concerned.
She glanced at Concubine Ni Gui, smiled sweetly and said, "Your Majesty, my concubine is not talented. I have a poem, which I would like to dedicate to the Emperor. Congratulations on this auspicious omen."
"Yi Ran has always been talented, since she can compose poetry in an instant, come and listen to it quickly." Qi Long said with a smile.
Concubine Yun stood up, concentrating for a while, and said leisurely, "Although I don't have the chance to see you, you can still imagine the fragrant and unique beauty in the valley, which is exactly:
The name is expensive according to the emperor,
Rooted in the emperor's house.
The fragrance is rich and colorful,
The flowers are red and the clouds are shining.
The scenery is thick with three halls,
Rain and dew nine times on credit.
Since it is about luck,
It is not dry spring alone. "
After finishing the recitation, Concubine Yun looked at Qi Long with a smile, and said in a charming and authentic way: "The concubine's shabby work made the emperor laugh at me." She was wearing a green long dress that stretched to the ground. However, the cuffs and the hem of the skirt became wider again, and the corners of the skirt were decorated with jade pendants, her hair was pulled up high, and she wore a set of jade jewelry that was a tribute from southern Xinjiang.Between walking and stopping, the green and crystal-clear emerald jade steps on both sides sway gently and jingle, which really has a charming demeanor of "fairies coming out of the forest, looking at each other and pity each other".
"Okay, okay, Yiran really put her heart into it." Qi Long looked at Concubine Yun and smiled.
"Sister Yun Concubine is really talented." Concubine Ni also praised, but secretly hated that half of the limelight she had carefully planned tonight was taken away by her again.
"It's a pity that this kind of thing can be encountered but not sought." Qi Taki put the petals in his hand into the box.
"Your Majesty, don't worry. Since God bestowed upon me Daqi, how can I be negligent? My father has already sent people to guard that mountain forest, and no one is allowed to enter the valley. Of course, the plum blossoms inside are not allowed to be picked. We just wait for the Emperor to send someone to inspect it. Then do the processing. As long as they are taken care of properly in the future, they can be picked for His Majesty and Queen Mother every year."
"Well, it's hard to be loyal to Ni Yuan." Qi Long closed the golden box.
Seeing that the emperor had finished appreciating it, Gao Shengnuo stepped forward to pick up the gold box, handed it to the eunuch beside him, and when he walked up to the man in Tsing Yi just now, he was about to lead him down.
Suddenly, the man in Tsing Yi played loudly: "Report to the Emperor, I have something to report."
Qi Long was taken aback, as were the queen and Concubine Ni.
"What's the matter?" Qi Taki replied reflexively.
The man in Tsing Yi raised his head, his original appearance and temperament were very ordinary, and he would not attract attention at all.But the moment he raised his head, it was as if a sharp sword had been pulled out of its sheath, and the cold air was overflowing, so that people couldn't take their eyes off him.A pair of dim eyes flashed, making his original appearance become indescribably bright.Those eyes were even sharper than a sharp sword, but with a strange gentleness, they lightly swept across the people in front of them.
Being swept by his eyes, people feel as if they are under the scorching sun, or standing naked in the cold ice.
Accompanied by a clear and long laugh, the man in Tsing Yi raised his hand, and the brass plate originally held in his hand was thrown out like a flywheel, making a sharp whistling sound.The hand that was originally hidden under the plate was immediately exposed, holding a shining dagger in that hand.
With the sound of the wind, the copper plate smashed towards one of the two old inner eunuchs who had been standing behind Qi Taki. At the same time, the sword in the man's hand stabbed towards Qi Taki like lightning and thunder.
The moment the person in Tsing Yi said something, Su Mi had already realized that she pulled Qi Yan back quickly like a conditioned reflex.
In an instant, the two old and inconspicuous inner eunuchs behind Qi Taki had already reacted. One of them raised his palm and slapped the copper plate in front of him, and the other quickly stood up to meet the man in Tsing Yi. The sword was far from touching the dragon table.
The eunuch who met the man in Tsing Yi flipped his hand hidden in his long sleeves, and used his empty hand to catch the man's sharp blade. The palm of his hand shone with golden light, and his hand was actually wearing a glove made of unknown metal.
At the moment when the old eunuch's hand was about to touch the man's sword in Tsing Yi, the man in Tsing Yi suddenly let out a long howl, the voice was high-pitched, tragic, and strangely long, piercing through the sky like a rainbow piercing the sun, straight to the sky.
As the whistle sounded, all the people in the hall were suddenly dizzy and on the verge of falling. The eunuch who was the first to bear the brunt felt a surge of energy and blood.
At this moment, the sword of the man in Tsing Yi quickly changed his move, and the sword was flat, passing by the golden palm, and then slashed along with the trend. The coming of the sword light was overwhelming. The light crossed a circular arc, but it was too late to dodge it completely. In an instant, the sharp blade passed between the waist and abdomen, blood spattered on the spot, and he died in Huangquan.
This fighting effort was only in an instant, and many people in the hall did not realize what happened at all.
"Boom!" There was a muffled sound, and the original brass plate was hit hard by the empty fist of another master internal supervisor. splash.
Everything happens in an instant.The aftertaste of that "clang" sound was still floating in the air, shaking the eardrums of everyone in the hall.
At this time, all the concubines in the palace realized that someone was assassinating him!Immediately, no one knew who screamed.
"Ah~~~"
Shrill, hoarse.Immediately fear spread, and immediately, the concubines, eunuchs, and maids couldn't tell whether they were masters or slaves, and everyone ran around, screaming and running away.
The entire hall became a mess.
"Foolish king, take your life!"
At the same time as the people in Tsing Yi started, the artists who had been standing by with their hands down and waiting to receive their rewards quickly rushed towards the lanterns and stands.Those wooden shelves turned out to be hollowed out, and compartments were also made in the lanterns.Everyone quickly drew their weapons from it, and immediately after that, several people rushed to the stage to support the man in Tsing Yi, and the rest of them, led by the class leader, looked nervously at the gate of the palace, preparing to block the guards who entered the palace for rescue, and for their companions To gain time.
The man in Tsing Yi turned his sword, and immediately stabbed at Qi Taki again. The power of this sword was stronger and faster than the previous one, and for a moment it seemed that only the glory of this sword was left in the world.At this time, another old eunuch had not had time to take back the hand that knocked the copper plate away.Seeing that the sword of the man in Tsing Yi was about to reach Qi Taki's eyes.
Qi Taki was still dumbfounded and didn't know what to do.
"Ding Dang..." There was a crisp sound, followed by a sound like gold and stone interlacing, the thunderous sword of the man in Tsing Yi was deflected, and it slashed across Qi Long's neck.
"Ding dong..." Something rebounded and fell to the ground. It was a rosewood chopsticks inlaid with gold.
The man in Tsing Yi turned his head away, the strange expression in his eyes appeared and disappeared, and the tall and tall man beside the table slowly stood up.
The one who made the move was Prince Yu Qi Hao!
(End of this chapter)
From the small side hall to the main hall of Tianxiangyuan, you have to walk through a long corridor. The corridor, which was originally a good place to cool off in summer, is now hung with pearl gauze curtains on both sides to avoid the cold wind and enjoy the scenery.
Su Mi and Qi Yan walked through the winding corridor together, and just turned a corner, when He Yuwang led a few young eunuchs and walked towards this side, seeing the two of them, they hurriedly saluted, "Greetings to the two talented masters .”
Su Mi said lightly: "No."
Just as he was about to pass by, the last eunuch among the eunuchs was startled when he heard her voice. Su Mi couldn't help squinting slightly. When I saw it, I didn't know why, there were a few scars all over the face, which ruined a face that should have been very upright, and it was very hideous.
Su Mi couldn't help but take another look, and even with this look, even if she was calm, her expression changed immediately.
"Master, master, what's wrong?" Seeing that Su Mi's face suddenly turned pale as paper, Mi Qing hurriedly supported her and said.
"It's nothing." Su Mi replied, but her voice couldn't help trembling, as if her tongue wasn't her own anymore.
Even though he had changed a lot, she still recognized him.
"What's wrong with sister? What's wrong?" Qi Yan also panicked.
"Master is not feeling well, if I had known, I would not have come here." Mi Qing exclaimed, "Your servant, please go and call the imperial physician over."
"The master is not feeling well, the slave should send someone to call the imperial doctor, don't bother the girl." He Yuwang said hastily.Su Mi was in the midst of being favored and pregnant again, so they naturally couldn't keep up with each other.
"No need," Su Mi supported the railing, and said, "It's just a little dizzy, it'll be fine after a while." Turning her head to Qi Yan, she said, "It's good for my younger sister to come over now, I'll be there in a while."
Qiyan wanted to say something else.
Su Mi shook her hand and said: "In order not to worry the emperor and empress, my sister will go first, I will be there in a while."
Qi Yan dawdled for a while, and seeing that Su Mi's face was getting better, she nodded and walked away with her step by step.
He Yuwang hastily wiped and wiped the railings of the corridor with his sleeve.Mi Qing helped Su Mi to sit down: "Could it be that the master caught a cold just now, I don't know when the banquet will be held tonight, I think it's better for the slaves to ask the empress for leave, let's go back to Caiwei Palace."
"Yeah, what if I hurt the dragonborn, it's better to send someone to the imperial doctor." He Yuwang said from the side.
Hearing the word "Dragonborn", the eunuch couldn't help shaking again, and his face became extremely ugly.
"No need, Mr. Lao is bothering you. It's just a common illness, just take a short rest." Su Mi said calmly, then looked at the eunuchs behind him, and asked, "I don't know who these eunuchs are? Are you following Eunuch He? Are you very familiar?"
"Oh, the master is asking about these servants? They are all taking care of the plum garden, and they all just entered the palace. Some rough people, because they don't know the master's jade car passed by, bumped into the master. The slave is here Send them far away."
"Oh, don't be busy, I'm taking care of the plum garden? I just want to move a few plum trees in my yard, so I have to ask about it another day? Have any of you ever planted plum blossoms?" Su Mi asked softly, The eyes looked at him involuntarily.
"The slave planted it." He immediately raised his head and said.
"Master Su wants to grow plum blossoms. He really has a good eye. This old slave is just a layman, but he also thinks that the plum blossoms are beautiful and noble. They are just suitable for you, Master." He Yuwang interjected.
"Oh, I came here to enjoy the plum blossoms today, and only then did I know the beauty of these plum blossoms. I want to move a few to my yard, but I don't know which one to plant." Su Mi has calmed down, and tried to look at him peacefully. , asked.
"I don't know where the master lives?"
"It's Caiwei Palace by Weiyang Pool."
"There is a saying that 'every year, Fang believes in the red plums, and the riverside is about to bloom again.' The slaves think that it is better to have Hanyinghongmei." The flowers of Hanyinghongmei are as red as blood, and their stamens are sharp, so It is also called "thorn plum" among the people.Very common, not a rare breed.
"I didn't expect you to be quite knowledgeable. What's your name?" Su Mi was silent for a moment, then smiled.
"Slave Chen Lie," he paused, then suddenly raised his head and said, "Master is not feeling well, it's better not to participate in today's banquet."
Su Mi was startled for a moment.
"Shut up, is this what you said to the master?" He Yuwang immediately shouted from the side, "Those who don't understand the rules. Hurry up and apologize to the master!"
Seeing that Su Mi didn't respond, Chen Lie became anxious and wanted to say something.
"I see, you don't need to say it." Su Mi interrupted him with a clear look in his eyes.
"Okay, since you are a newcomer, you naturally don't know the rules. Eunuch He, don't worry. I will ask him about plum blossoms in a few days." Su Mi's heart was still in a state of confusion, but her expression Has fully recovered, without a trace of flaws, smiling and authentic.
"Master, it's getting late, should we go to the banquet now, or..." Mi Qing asked a little anxiously from the side.
"Okay, I'll find a few masters for advice another day." Su Mi stood up, and Mi Qing helped her walk past the crowd.
When passing by his side, Su Mi could clearly feel his body trembling slightly.
"Chen Lie, I think you are usually prudent. Why are you so ignorant of the rules when you meet the master today. Fortunately, Su Cairen is a good-natured person. Otherwise, some of you are good-looking. You can find death yourself, and don't implicate us. Seeing Su Mi walking away, He Yuwang couldn't help being furious and reprimanded: "I saw that you usually speak and behave as if you have read a few books, and thought you were less frivolous than them, why are you so..."
While He Yuwang was chattering, he met Chen Lie's eyes, suddenly it seemed that he met a pair of ice, like a frozen lake in winter, it was frighteningly cold, and it was so dark that he couldn't see what was underneath.He Yuwang couldn't help but shuddered in Ji Lingling, the curse in his mouth seemed to be blocked by something suddenly, and he couldn't utter a word.
"Father-in-law, forgive me, Chen Lie was rude for a while." Chen Lie lowered his head, then raised his head, his eyes were soft and submissive.
He Yuwang settled down and looked, he was still the little eunuch who was submissive. "Uh... ah... It's good to know, but don't do it again." Hell, what happened to me just now, my old eyes are dizzy?he muttered to himself.
"This is..." Looking at Su Mi's back, some eunuchs he didn't know couldn't help asking.
"That's Master Su, you know, the one who just became a talented person a few days ago." He Yuwang rolled his eyes at him, and taught him a lesson: "You are lucky today, and you will be able to see Master, so be careful I pray to God to bless Su Cairen, don’t be frightened by the vulgar appearance of you group of rough embryos, it’s terrible to be frightened by Fengjia, you know? Su Cairen has dragon descendants by his side.”
Immediately, a little eunuch suddenly realized: "So that's Su Cairen. I heard that she was a court lady, and she was not a slave like us. Look at his good fortune, and there are dragon descendants. Tsk tsk, I really can't catch up. "
"Bah, what do you envy for a worthless thing? You are born to work hard. Could it be that you can also give birth to a little prince for the emperor?" A eunuch with a little more seniority among the crowd scolded with a smile.
Several people burst into laughter, He Yuwang immediately looked around cautiously, and cursed again, "Little bastard who doesn't understand the rules, I can beat you to death, this kind of thing can be said here? Be careful that the master passes here again , send all of you to the Hard Labor Department, clean up all the boards, and save me from worrying about it. Look at how stable Xiao Liezi is."
Chen Lie was the only one who didn't smile.
"He was so scared by you just now, he just entered the palace not long ago." Several people laughed.
※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※
The layout of the hall is extremely festive.
The ground is covered with thick carpets inlaid with gold threads, and the beams are covered with exquisitely painted palace lanterns, with bright red silk flowers on them.
The main hall is surrounded by six pairs of tall copper pillars. Next to the copper pillars, there are carved silver candlesticks one person tall. The sky is not yet dark, but candles as thick as arms are lit early on. Spices, burnt with a delicate fragrance.
There is a carved table with a golden dragon on the front, and the dragon chair behind it is naturally made by the emperor, and Qi Long has not come over yet.On the left is the queen, and on the right is Concubine Ni, both of whom have arrived.
There are a row of red sandalwood tables on both sides, and beside the tables are jade vases, in which are just carefully prepared plum blossoms, and some plum blossoms still hold a little bit of residual snow on their petals.The aroma of plum blossoms mixed with the aroma of candles formed a warm and intoxicating atmosphere. Behind the table were soft embroidered cushions and pillows, and behind them stood maids and eunuchs who poured wine and tea for the concubines and served dishes.
Su Mi stepped into the main hall, and most of the high-ranking concubines in the harem had already arrived.
The scale of the banquet ordered by the emperor himself is naturally not comparable to the small banquet called by the queen. Although it is only a family banquet, if there are no special circumstances, the concubines in the harem must be decorated according to the decorations and formally attend.
Sitting behind the first table next to the queen was Qiyan, and there was still a seat vacant beside Qiyan. After that, the next table sat Concubine Chen Shu and Concubine Li Xian from among the first rank and four concubines, and after that was Luo Zhaoyi among the nine concubines. and Shen Xiuyuan.
Concubine Ni lowered her head, sitting among the six concubines were Concubine Wen, Concubine Yun and several concubines including Concubine Zheng.
In the next order are the concubines with lower status.It hasn't been too long since Qi Long succeeded to the throne, and most of the harem, especially high-level concubines, are vacant.
As soon as Su Mi stepped into the hall, she saw Qi Yan waving to her. Su Mi walked forward and sat down under the eyes of everyone.Originally, as two people in the harem, they really shouldn't sit in such a front position, but now that both of them are pregnant, even if there is any dissatisfaction with the concubine, they can only be suppressed in their stomachs and dare not express it.
Su Mi sat next to Qi Yan, and looked into the main hall, all the concubines were all gorgeously dressed.Through the plum blossoms and the white snow, it is dazzling.It's no wonder that all the concubines have put in so much effort, even Chen Shufei, who is one of the four concubines, once she falls out of favor, she will never see the emperor for most of the year, except for such formal occasions.So all of them are trying their best to attract the king's favor.
Today, the queen is wearing a red court dress embroidered with multicolored golden phoenix, and an exquisite golden phoenix with pearls on her head. Twelve phoenix tails firmly fix her bun into a fairy bun. There is an exquisite and delicate handle of Fugui Ruyi in her mouth, and there are three strings of pearls hanging from it, the bottom one of each string is the size of a lotus seed, and the middle one is bigger than a circle, hanging on her forehead , exuding a soft light, it turned out to be three luminous pearls, the brilliance flowed, and the empress's face was even more dazzling.It is a phoenix crown and Xiapei, which is dazzling and bright.
Concubine Ni is wearing a simple sky blue court dress embroidered with dark flowers, and she only wears a thin phoenix tail on her head. The phoenix tail made of colorful gemstones neatly holds her bun, and several pearl flowers are pinned to the side of the bun. They are all made of large pearl strings. The strangest thing is that each bead emits a faint blue fluorescence, and even the clothes emit this radiance. From a distance, Ni Yelin seems to be sitting in the radiance. Average, bright and moving.
"My sister's beaded flower is really unique, and the style of the clothes is also fresh. I think the button and the beaded flower are both made of Ye Mingzhu, right?" the queen asked kindly.
Luminous pearls are rare in the first place, and particles of this size are extremely rare accessories. They can be met but not sought after. The queen is from the most powerful and powerful Wang family in Daqi. She also cherishes the golden phoenix with the luminous pearl very much. It is not a formal occasion. It will not be taken out and used easily.But seeing Concubine Ni today, not only the beads, but even the buttons of the clothes are glowing night pearls, and none of the particles is inferior to her golden phoenix, the queen couldn't help being curious.
"Elder Sister Empress is joking, what is Ye Lin's status, how dare she use Ye Mingzhu to make beads and buttons, besides, our Ni family has always been poor, so we can't afford to use them." Concubine Ni immediately said.
"Oh, I think this bead is very bright, it's not a night pearl, it's strange." The queen laughed.It's really strange that your Ni family is poor.The territory of the Ni family is the famous and affluent Yongzhou among the nine states in the world. It has prosperous business and is rich in the world. Although the Ni family has always kept a low profile, its wealth and luxury can be seen from the daily behavior of Concubine Ni.
"It's just some ordinary Hepu beads, they're just ordinary varieties. They can't compare to the empress, who came from a famous family, but she found such a big night pearl. Presumably, the emperor's eyes will be drawn to it after a while, ha ha." Concubine Ni said Mouth chuckled.
The queen's face was a little bit bad, and she smiled again: "Where is it a rare thing, if my sister likes this golden phoenix, why don't you tell me earlier, and give it to my sister."
"Ye Lin doesn't dare to ask for it. Only empresses are eligible to wear the twelve-tailed golden phoenix. How dare maids and concubines dare to wear it? And... the empress is so 'treasure' this golden phoenix...hehe...as the saying goes, a gentleman should not wear it. It's what people like." Ni Yelin's smile became sweeter and sweeter.
The queen really had the urge to throw her golden phoenix down hard on the smiling face of Concubine Ni Gui.
"My younger sister is so radiant, I can't even look away from my elder sister. When the emperor sees her later, I'm afraid she will be as stunning as she was two years ago. How can my elder sister, who is already old, compare to her," the queen sighed. "The past two years have really passed by in a flash. Now that I see the new sisters sitting down, I really have to be convinced and sigh."
Concubine Ni's face was also a little uneasy, the queen's words were clearly reminding her that her doting was two years ago, no matter how much she tried to dress up, it was useless.She wanted to refute again, but when she saw the queen repeating these few words, she turned her head away and went to talk to Su Mi who was sitting down, she couldn't help feeling depressed.
In fact, what she just said is indeed true. Her pearls are indeed Hepu pearls. It’s just that she recently found a rare and skilled craftsman from Yongzhou. Put a solution mixed with luminous powder, and then use a needle as thin as a cow's hair to pierce pores all over the surface of the pearl, so that the solution seeps out to the surface of the pearl, so that ordinary pearls also look dotted and fluorescent.
"What's wrong with Su Cairen?" The queen asked with concern. "Just now I heard from Liu Cairen that he seems to be in poor health on the road."
"My sister is not feeling well, and she almost passed out just now." Qi Yan interjected.
"Thank you, Empress, for your concern. The maid and concubine are fine. They are just a little tired after playing around for a while. They are no longer in the way." Su Mi pulled herself together and replied with a smile.
"That's good. If there is anything wrong, we can't afford it. I don't know when the banquet will be tonight. If you feel tired, you can go to the back hall to rest for a while. Dragonborn is important."
"Your Majesty's lesson is, I need you to worry about my Majesty." Su Mi replied submissively.
"The emperor is here!" Just as he was talking, the eunuch at the door made a long announcement, and Qi Long walked in, followed by a tall and tall man, who was Prince Yu Qi Hao. This was the second time Su Mi saw him. he.
The queen was surprised when she saw Qi Hao coming in. Even the prince was still a man after all the family banquet where all the concubines gathered in the harem, so it should be taboo.
"I just came over from the Qianqing Palace, and just finished discussing with Prince Yu, so I came here together." Qi Long said: "We are all brothers of our own family, so there is no need to talk about so many vulgar etiquette and taboos."
After hearing Qi Long's words, the queen turned around and quickly ordered the little eunuch to arrange the tables and chairs. After another burst of fuss, a table was added under Concubine Ni Gui.Just opposite to Su Mi and Qi Yan's seat.
The Empress and Concubine Ni got up and helped Qi Long sit down. When Qi Long saw Concubine Ni, his eyes flashed with admiration, and he couldn't help but hold her hand and praised, "Ye Lin's dress is really unique today."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your compliment," Concubine Ni said happily, all the concubines dressed up carefully, isn't it just for such a look and a compliment?Just as she was about to say something else, the queen said from the side: "The concubine just went to pay her respects to the queen mother. The queen mother said that she would meditate and worship the Buddha and would not participate in this kind of excitement, so she didn't come here today. It's just the queen mother's body..."
Qi Taki immediately let go and turned his head and asked, "Is the queen mother okay?"
"It's not a big problem. I think the old man's health is not bad. It's just that the weather is too cold recently and he's a little stuffy. The concubine advised her to come here to relax." The queen smiled virtuously.
"Well, if there is any discomfort, it is better to call the imperial physician early." Qi Long said.
Qi Long chatted with the empress, Concubine Ni Gui was pushed aside and she couldn't talk at all. The empress dowager was the empress's aunt and the elder sister of the great general Wang She. Although she never had anything against Ni Yelin, she didn't particularly like her. she.Ni Yelin felt depressed again.
After Prince Yu Qi Hao sat down, he glanced down with his expression unchanged. His gaze passed Su Mi's table, paused for a moment, and then moved away as if nothing had happened.
Qi Yan looked at Qi Hao, and immediately recognized him as the person who was by the Bibo Pool that day, and couldn't help whispering in Su Mi's ear. Hao glanced over, and when the eyes of the two met, Qi Yan shuddered instantly, feeling as if she had been seen through from the inside out.
"Strange, he seems to have heard my words, obviously so far away..." Qi Yan muttered in a low voice, not daring to say any more.
Of course he could hear it, and Su Mi smiled slightly. She remembered that when she first met Qi Hao that day, Qi Hao was only wearing a thin white light shirt when the water was dripping into ice. He is a master of martial arts both internally and externally.
I just don't know what kind of variables will be added by his appearance at today's banquet!The hint Chen Lie gave her just now is already obvious enough, and when thinking about the scene of the theater troupe she met in Tianxiang Garden, Su Mi already knows very well that the background of today's theater troupe is not simple, and the purpose of course is not as simple as performing arts.
What should be done?
Expose them?There is no evidence, and when the time comes, how did Su Cairen know that there was an assassin in the troupe?How should I answer myself?
What should I do to bring the greatest benefit to myself?
Su Mi thought for a moment, leaned back slightly, called Mi Qing to her side, took her hand, and whispered a few words in her ear, Mi Qing looked surprised, then calmly, and took the order to leave.
"What did sister say just now?" Qi Yan next to her asked curiously.
"Looking at today's banquet, I'm afraid it will be very late. I'm afraid I won't be able to drink, so I tell her to go back and prepare some hangover soup." Su Mi laughed.
"Ah, my sister is really thoughtful. I should also tell them to prepare." Qi Yan clapped her hands.
Su Mi smiled and said nothing, raised her head, but saw Qi Hao looking at her thoughtfully, her heart tightened, and she calmed down.What she said in Miqing's ear just now was indeed hangover soup, but the real order was drawn on her hand with her finger while the two were holding hands.
She won't show any flaws!
The feast has begun.
All kinds of delicacies and delicacies were served like flowing water, and the maids at each table cleverly warmed the wine and served dishes for the concubines.
With a call, the theater troupe also came in front of the hall and began to perform.
A total of twelve people came in from the theater troupe, half of them were thick and big men, and the rest were young men and women.Entering the main hall, a few small wooden frames were immediately set up, and two tower-like men were holding two huge red lanterns. After a while, the preparations were completed, and everyone began to perform.Under the dazzling light, the dozen or so people continued to make difficult movements as smooth as water, with light and flexible movements, and the coordination between transitions was seamless.Although it is not as gorgeous and dazzling as the authentic singing and dancing in the palace, it is fresh and unique, and all the concubines are watching it intently.
The men below supported them with their hands, and the girls were lifted into the air, jumped up lightly, paused on the beam, and waved their hands. I don't know what method they used. The colored lights that were originally hanging on the beam lightly It exploded lightly, turning into countless pieces of broken gold and red paper, all cut into the shape of petals, falling from the air, extremely gorgeous.
Immediately afterwards, two huge red lanterns were suddenly opened, and there were actually two small girls sitting bent and embracing their knees inside. They stood up, and the lantern was split in two, and the upper half was held by the two girls, holding it slightly. As soon as it was folded and changed, it immediately turned into two golden lotuses. The man below lifted it with his hand, and the two of them cooperated with their feet, and immediately flew up. Bending down and dancing lightly, making all kinds of graceful and attractive movements between ups and downs, for a while, ribbons fluttered and flowers were clustered. With the wave of golden lotus, countless colorful flowers swayed from the lotus in the sky and flew down on the carpet. Everyone on board was amazed.
Su Mi's palms were sweating at this moment, and there was no more suitable opportunity than this moment to assassinate.She unobtrusively took off the jade pendant attached to the tassels on the side of her clothes, and put it in her arms.
Accompanied by high-pitched music, the two of them flew up for the last time. The nasturtium lantern exploded and turned into countless fine gold flakes. The two girls raised their hands, and two streams of red silk floated upwards, followed by a The banner floated down from the crossbeam, and on it was written big characters in gilt seal script, "Lingyun, Yuque, Towering, Haode, Biao, Xiaohan, Imperial Residence, Zhansu, Mu, Boen, and Kyushu." On the banner were four gold characters "Long live my emperor", in the sky full of The golden shavings are flying every now and then, which is particularly solemn and eye-catching.The concubines couldn't help being amazed.
At the moment when the two girls took off, Su Mi's heart also rose to her throat.
But, who knew, after pulling up the banner, the two women floated down leisurely, stood with hands down together with the rest of the troupe, and bowed to salute.
There was no assassination? !Su Mi's heart also sank, and she couldn't help being surprised. Could it be that they will have a better chance?
When Su Mi was puzzled, the theater troupe had kowtowed their thanks and stood at the entrance of the hall.
Qi Long watched with great interest, and repeatedly ordered the internal eunuchs around him to reward him.
The Queen laughed and said, "These folk juggling lanterns are quite unusual. Compared with the singing and dancing in the palace, they have a different flavor. Your Majesty is having fun with the people today."
Today's banquet is hosted by the empress, seeing Qi Long's high spirits, the empress is naturally very proud.
Concubine Ni glanced at the queen, smiled at Qi Long, and said, "Your Majesty, the banquet is about to begin, and my concubine has something to present to the emperor tonight."
"Oh, what?" Qi Ting asked.
"A few days ago, my father discovered a strange tea in Yizhou. It was very strange, but he couldn't think of a name. Today, I specially presented it to the emperor. Please enlighten me?"
"Really? Then take it in and have a look." Qi Long is in a great mood. It's the end of the year. In recent days, the connection between the government and the government is all good news. He was also recalled to the capital, and two more concubines were pregnant in the harem, which made him even more happy.
Concubine Ni clapped her hands lightly, and Xia Zhen, the maid next to her, immediately went out to spread the word, and after a while a man in Tsing Yi walked into the hall holding a gold plate.
On the plate was an exquisitely carved gold box. When the man in Tsing Yi walked into the hall, Gao Shengnuo immediately stepped forward to take the box and handed it to the eunuch in charge for inspection before presenting it up.
Qi Long opened the box, and a tea fragrance overflowed immediately, and the whole hall smelled it all at once.
Everyone couldn't help but be moved.At that time, drinking tea and discussing tea were extremely popular among the upper class of nobles in various countries, and most of the concubines present were good at tea ceremony.
"This is..." Qi Long couldn't hide the surprise on his face when he looked at the things in the box. Is this tea?Qi Taki lightly picked up one of them, it is clearly a piece of petals?However, there is an extremely cleansing tea fragrance in it, which is refreshing and refreshing.
"This is……"
"Sister Yun is a talented woman who is knowledgeable and knowledgeable. I don't know if Sister Yun knows this?" Concubine Ni looked at Qi Long's reaction with satisfaction, then looked up at Concubine Yun with a smile and asked.
Qi Long's gaze also turned to Concubine Yun, she was also known for her proficiency in tea ceremony and her knowledgeable experience, which was well known in the harem.
Concubine Yun knew that Concubine Ni Gui was entertaining herself, and her teeth were itching with hatred, but under the emperor's gaze, she still had to reply respectfully: "Reporting to the emperor, my concubines don't know. How can poor concubines and concubines be as good as you are?" Is she a noble concubine who is well-informed? You are really ashamed to be a talented woman."
"Haven't Lian Yiran heard of it?" Qi Long became interested and asked, "Where did you find this?"
"Reporting to the emperor, this is what my father found in a valley on the border. Speaking of which, there was an accident." Concubine Ni looked around, and everyone's eyes were focused on her.
"A few days ago, when my father led the army to attack Chen, he took people to a place in Yizhou for reconnaissance. When he passed a valley, he could smell the fragrance of tea from a distance. He thought there must be someone living there, so he wanted to go there and beg for bowls. Drinking water, who knows that after entering the valley, there are plum blossoms all over the valley, in full bloom, but the strange thing is that the fragrance of the flowers is not ordinary white plums, but the fragrance of tea is all over the valley, and the valley is full of fragrance. No one was there. This is really strange. My father ordered people to investigate carefully, and then sent people to ask around. It turned out that this place used to be a huge tea garden. People know that the tea trees here have been allowed to grow naturally for hundreds of years. The leaves grow and fall, and the tea leaves on the ground accumulate more and more, and gradually fall into mud. Ten years ago, a severe drought caused all the tea trees in the valley to die, leaving only a few wild plum trees still alive. I don’t know if they were contaminated with the aura of the valley. The tea is fragrant. But I don’t know where the tea fragrance comes from, I’m afraid it’s a spiritual seed blessed by the heavens.” Concubine Ni said eloquently: “A few days ago, the emperor’s kindness called my father back to Beijing to report his duties. So I brought some back with me."
"I didn't expect that the Ni family could even find this kind of thing." Thinking of the "white jade and green frost" that she just offered a few days ago, the queen didn't know that Ni Guifei was offering this kind of thing at this time to overwhelm her, so she immediately smiled and said: "Ni Gui The Great General really has all-hands and eyes, how much manpower and material resources have been spent to get it?"
"Spiritual wood is natural. My father discovered it by accident. It was God who blessed me, Daqi, and let this kind of spiritual thing come to the world. It was just passed on by my father. It is comparable to my mother. Lian Nan You can get Chen's famous tea." Concubine Ni laughed.The queen hinted that their Ni family was too powerful, how could she fail to understand, in terms of power, who can compare to your Wang family.
Qi Long glanced at the Queen with slight displeasure, then turned to Concubine Ni Gui and said, "Shangshu Ni has also worked hard, not to mention the great achievements he has made in his battle against Nanchen, I never thought that even such trivial matters would be thoughtful for me. "
"My father just took advantage of the emperor's great blessing to make a small contribution this time, which is not worth mentioning at all. It can't compare to the emperor's Wencheng Wude, which makes people happy, and even this kind of exotic tea came into being. "Ni Guifei laughed respectfully.
"Well," Qi Long was in a good mood, nodded with satisfaction, and asked again: "Does this tea have a name?"
Concubine Ni quickly smiled and said: "I don't have a name yet, it's just that even this kind of strange product came to the world, it must be a sign from the heavens, praise me for being an outstanding person in Daqi, and ask the emperor to give me an auspicious name."
Qi Taki looked at the petals in his hand, the shape was as round as pearls, and the color was white as jade, but the petals were a little red on the top, very cute, when he sniffed carefully, the tea fragrance also had the fragrance of plum blossoms, it was an indistinguishable one, indistinguishable. He laughed and said, "It really is a good omen. Since it is a plum petal, why not call it 'Snow Soul Congealing Pearl'"
"Good name," Ni Guifei clapped her hands in praise. "Sure enough, it is the name bestowed by the emperor. It is beautiful, elegant and unique."
All the concubines also praised immediately, "Heaven will be auspicious."
The queen's complexion dimmed a little imperceptibly, and she turned her head to wink at Concubine Yun.
Concubine Yun immediately understood, and after concentrating on it for a while, she immediately became concerned.
She glanced at Concubine Ni Gui, smiled sweetly and said, "Your Majesty, my concubine is not talented. I have a poem, which I would like to dedicate to the Emperor. Congratulations on this auspicious omen."
"Yi Ran has always been talented, since she can compose poetry in an instant, come and listen to it quickly." Qi Long said with a smile.
Concubine Yun stood up, concentrating for a while, and said leisurely, "Although I don't have the chance to see you, you can still imagine the fragrant and unique beauty in the valley, which is exactly:
The name is expensive according to the emperor,
Rooted in the emperor's house.
The fragrance is rich and colorful,
The flowers are red and the clouds are shining.
The scenery is thick with three halls,
Rain and dew nine times on credit.
Since it is about luck,
It is not dry spring alone. "
After finishing the recitation, Concubine Yun looked at Qi Long with a smile, and said in a charming and authentic way: "The concubine's shabby work made the emperor laugh at me." She was wearing a green long dress that stretched to the ground. However, the cuffs and the hem of the skirt became wider again, and the corners of the skirt were decorated with jade pendants, her hair was pulled up high, and she wore a set of jade jewelry that was a tribute from southern Xinjiang.Between walking and stopping, the green and crystal-clear emerald jade steps on both sides sway gently and jingle, which really has a charming demeanor of "fairies coming out of the forest, looking at each other and pity each other".
"Okay, okay, Yiran really put her heart into it." Qi Long looked at Concubine Yun and smiled.
"Sister Yun Concubine is really talented." Concubine Ni also praised, but secretly hated that half of the limelight she had carefully planned tonight was taken away by her again.
"It's a pity that this kind of thing can be encountered but not sought." Qi Taki put the petals in his hand into the box.
"Your Majesty, don't worry. Since God bestowed upon me Daqi, how can I be negligent? My father has already sent people to guard that mountain forest, and no one is allowed to enter the valley. Of course, the plum blossoms inside are not allowed to be picked. We just wait for the Emperor to send someone to inspect it. Then do the processing. As long as they are taken care of properly in the future, they can be picked for His Majesty and Queen Mother every year."
"Well, it's hard to be loyal to Ni Yuan." Qi Long closed the golden box.
Seeing that the emperor had finished appreciating it, Gao Shengnuo stepped forward to pick up the gold box, handed it to the eunuch beside him, and when he walked up to the man in Tsing Yi just now, he was about to lead him down.
Suddenly, the man in Tsing Yi played loudly: "Report to the Emperor, I have something to report."
Qi Long was taken aback, as were the queen and Concubine Ni.
"What's the matter?" Qi Taki replied reflexively.
The man in Tsing Yi raised his head, his original appearance and temperament were very ordinary, and he would not attract attention at all.But the moment he raised his head, it was as if a sharp sword had been pulled out of its sheath, and the cold air was overflowing, so that people couldn't take their eyes off him.A pair of dim eyes flashed, making his original appearance become indescribably bright.Those eyes were even sharper than a sharp sword, but with a strange gentleness, they lightly swept across the people in front of them.
Being swept by his eyes, people feel as if they are under the scorching sun, or standing naked in the cold ice.
Accompanied by a clear and long laugh, the man in Tsing Yi raised his hand, and the brass plate originally held in his hand was thrown out like a flywheel, making a sharp whistling sound.The hand that was originally hidden under the plate was immediately exposed, holding a shining dagger in that hand.
With the sound of the wind, the copper plate smashed towards one of the two old inner eunuchs who had been standing behind Qi Taki. At the same time, the sword in the man's hand stabbed towards Qi Taki like lightning and thunder.
The moment the person in Tsing Yi said something, Su Mi had already realized that she pulled Qi Yan back quickly like a conditioned reflex.
In an instant, the two old and inconspicuous inner eunuchs behind Qi Taki had already reacted. One of them raised his palm and slapped the copper plate in front of him, and the other quickly stood up to meet the man in Tsing Yi. The sword was far from touching the dragon table.
The eunuch who met the man in Tsing Yi flipped his hand hidden in his long sleeves, and used his empty hand to catch the man's sharp blade. The palm of his hand shone with golden light, and his hand was actually wearing a glove made of unknown metal.
At the moment when the old eunuch's hand was about to touch the man's sword in Tsing Yi, the man in Tsing Yi suddenly let out a long howl, the voice was high-pitched, tragic, and strangely long, piercing through the sky like a rainbow piercing the sun, straight to the sky.
As the whistle sounded, all the people in the hall were suddenly dizzy and on the verge of falling. The eunuch who was the first to bear the brunt felt a surge of energy and blood.
At this moment, the sword of the man in Tsing Yi quickly changed his move, and the sword was flat, passing by the golden palm, and then slashed along with the trend. The coming of the sword light was overwhelming. The light crossed a circular arc, but it was too late to dodge it completely. In an instant, the sharp blade passed between the waist and abdomen, blood spattered on the spot, and he died in Huangquan.
This fighting effort was only in an instant, and many people in the hall did not realize what happened at all.
"Boom!" There was a muffled sound, and the original brass plate was hit hard by the empty fist of another master internal supervisor. splash.
Everything happens in an instant.The aftertaste of that "clang" sound was still floating in the air, shaking the eardrums of everyone in the hall.
At this time, all the concubines in the palace realized that someone was assassinating him!Immediately, no one knew who screamed.
"Ah~~~"
Shrill, hoarse.Immediately fear spread, and immediately, the concubines, eunuchs, and maids couldn't tell whether they were masters or slaves, and everyone ran around, screaming and running away.
The entire hall became a mess.
"Foolish king, take your life!"
At the same time as the people in Tsing Yi started, the artists who had been standing by with their hands down and waiting to receive their rewards quickly rushed towards the lanterns and stands.Those wooden shelves turned out to be hollowed out, and compartments were also made in the lanterns.Everyone quickly drew their weapons from it, and immediately after that, several people rushed to the stage to support the man in Tsing Yi, and the rest of them, led by the class leader, looked nervously at the gate of the palace, preparing to block the guards who entered the palace for rescue, and for their companions To gain time.
The man in Tsing Yi turned his sword, and immediately stabbed at Qi Taki again. The power of this sword was stronger and faster than the previous one, and for a moment it seemed that only the glory of this sword was left in the world.At this time, another old eunuch had not had time to take back the hand that knocked the copper plate away.Seeing that the sword of the man in Tsing Yi was about to reach Qi Taki's eyes.
Qi Taki was still dumbfounded and didn't know what to do.
"Ding Dang..." There was a crisp sound, followed by a sound like gold and stone interlacing, the thunderous sword of the man in Tsing Yi was deflected, and it slashed across Qi Long's neck.
"Ding dong..." Something rebounded and fell to the ground. It was a rosewood chopsticks inlaid with gold.
The man in Tsing Yi turned his head away, the strange expression in his eyes appeared and disappeared, and the tall and tall man beside the table slowly stood up.
The one who made the move was Prince Yu Qi Hao!
(End of this chapter)
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